'47 Loadmaster COE (rebuild pictures)

[47 Fasttoys]

4-16-2015
Well, my road trip has come to an end. It was a great trip with only minor issues: the leaky wind shield, multiple problems with the wipers and tire rubbing on tight turns. The first 2 still need to be fixed but the tire rubbing issues was fixed in Searcy Arkansas thanks to the guys from Audio Envy, it's a small shop that had a couple of lowered truck projects out front, I stopped in and they where more then helpful by loaning me a spring compressor and even went to get me some used stock springs from a local junk yard all for $70, heck they made me some garage wall art while I worked on the truck. Great cars guys for sure.
We drove around 3400 miles and averaged 17.64 MPG, of this mileage only about 200 where Interstate. The rest of it was in real America. Hundreds of pictures where taken of the truck and I'm sure it's popping up on the web on various sites. Talked to a lot people during our travels and have a lot of stories of things that happened on the road.
So what's next? I picked up steel today for more work on the bed and have been playing with ideas for a slide on camper.
Of course "To be Continued"
Rob

[47 Fasttoys]

5-19-2015
OK, so I kinda fell off the map for a bit. I did get the wheels fit and painted. I had to counter-sink the holes deeper due to the 14mm studs the late model truck uses. It also turns out you can not get this style of wheel in a 5" back spacing so a flare needed to be added to the bed, one side is complete. Other then that the truck is running great and I've topped over 8K miles now. Oh yea, I also took it to a car show Sunday and picked up a Top 15 out of about 60 cars so I was happy with that, I also ran it at the 1/8 drag strip a few times with a best of 10.390 seconds, not to bad for a big truck.
Rob

[47 Fasttoys]

8-15-2015
Been away from working on the COE for a bit. Put a new engine in the '46 and helping a friend with his 59. Also working on a '50 Olds Rocket 88 for another friend. Driving the COE every day so the miles are racking up, almost 15K now.
I did do a test on the COE. My plans are air bags and a hydraulic tilt bed. The good news is the Cobra does fit.
Rob

[47 Fasttoys]

8-16-2015
Thanks all, how did I load the Cobra? I cheated, lift Cobra on lift, back truck under, lower Cobra, BINGO. Later I will install a hydraulic tilt, air bags and some long ramps. The plans are to run it through the summer and tear it back apart this winter for some frame reinforcements and a lot of detail work.

By the way, the TOM contest for this month is heavy haulers, I will enter my truck and could use all the support you guys can offer.
Thanks,
Rob
8-24-2015
Thank's all for your support. It looks like it's gonna be close. I'm not out of it yet, but I need a push for sure. If you have looked over my build and followed my road trips you know my truck is a home built daily driver, not much more I can do at this point. Just the same, all the trucks in the running are worth your consideration. Oh, and by the way, I did top it out the other morning (in Mexico of course) looks like 112 is all shes got. Nothing like trying to push a barn down the highway.
Rob

[47 Fasttoys]

11-24-2015
So I haven't been posting a lot lately but I have been driving the snot out of the COE. I checked it today and I'm just over 22K miles. Having some minor issues but nothing major at all. After watching all you guys having all the fun I decided it was time for me to get started on some winter projects. I have a list of upgrades I want to get done before next summers trip so now is a good to get started. First up: Air ride.
I'm making my own system as much as I can, some parts I will to buy, some I will acquire and some I will build.
The only things I'm am set on is this whole process must be reversible and I would like to keep the truck down time to a minimum. I started by making my own cups and relocating the shocks. At this point I've completed the muck up of one side just to put it back to stock until some control parts get ordered and arrive (4 play valve system)
Rob